Wheel attaching means



Dec. 16, 1947. B. T. GROBOWSKI WHEEL ATTACHING MEANS Filed Feb. 20, 1946 INVENTOR. Banny T Gro bowskf.

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Patented Dec. 16,v 1947 S PATENT OFFICE WHEEL ATTACHING MEANS Benny T. Grobowski, Newark, Ohio, assignor to The E. T. Rugg Company, Newark, Ohio, a

corporation' of Ohio Application February 20, 1946, Serial No. 649,075

3 Claims. l

My invention relates to a wheel attaching means. It has to do, more particularly, with a novel wheel and axle structure which is particularly useful on lawn mowers, although it is not necessarily limited thereto.

Lawn mower wheels are most commonly cast from metal. The wheels are usually cast with a hub that provides a bearing sleeve extending completely through the wheel to the outside thereof. The axle is passed through the bearing sleeve and extends outwardly beyond the hub so that it is necessary to provide a retaining nut on the outer end of the axle, resulting in an unsightly structure. Usually, a hub cap is provided for covering this unsightly structure, but the hub cap itself is unsightly and detracts from the symmetry of the wheel.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a wheel and axle structure which is of such a nature that the outer end of the axle will not be exposed and there will be no need for providing an unsightly hub cap at the outer surface of the wheel.

Another object of my invention is to provide a wheel and axle structure of the type indicated which is of such a nature that the outer surface of the wheel may present a continuous, uninterrupted, symmetrical surface which can be nished, for example by a polishing operation, so that it will be very pleasing in appearance.

Another object of my invention is to provide a wheel and axle structure which is not only attractive as indicated above but which is of such a nature that the wheel may be easily and quickly applied to or removed from the mower.

Another object of my invention is to provide a wheel and axle structure of the type indicated which is of a rugged nature and will effectively maintain the wheel in position on the mower.

Another object of my invention is to provide a wheel and axle structure of the type indicated which Vwill not lonly have the desirable qualities mentioned above, but will be of a relatively simple and inexpensive structure.

The preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing Where- Figure 1 is a sectional view taken along line I-I of Figure 2 through my wheel and axle structure.

Figure 2 is an inside elevational view of a major part of the wheel structure.

Figure 3 is a detail in section of the hub and axle structure.

Figure 4 is a detail in perspective of the hub and axle structure.

With reference to the drawing, I have illustrated a wheel and axle structure which embodies the features of my invention. However, it is to be understood that the structure shown is for illustrative purposes and that modifications may be made without departing from the scope of my invention.

The structure comprises a wheel I which is preferably in the form of a single casting. I prefer to cast the Wheel of aluminum, but other materials may be used. The wheel includes a disc-like body that has on its periphery an integral rim 2 upon which is preferably mounted a rubber tire 3. The wheel is so formed as to present a continuous uninterrupted symmetrical surface 4 which may be finished in an attractive manner. I-f the wheel is cast from aluminum, this surface may be highly polished. The wheel is also cast with an inner integral ring gear 5 by means of which it may be rotated when mounted on a mower.

As indicated, the outer surface of the wheel is free of any hub or unsightly projection. However, the inner surface of the wheel carries a centrally disposed inwardly projecting hub 6 which is cast integral therewith. Thus, the hub includes an inner sleeve 'i which may be machined easily and accurately to receive the roller bearing 8.

The hub 6 is provided at the inner surface of the Wheel with a transverse slot 9 which is T- shaped in cross-section. This slot extends diametrically through the hub and has both ends open. The slot includes the narrow part I9 and the wide part I I. Midway between the ends of the slot B and communicating with the inner side of the wide part il of the slot is a circular recess I2 which is formed in the hub concentric with the bearing sleeve I and at the outer end thereof.

A headless stub axle i3 is provided for inserw tion into the wheel hub. The axle I3 is provided at a point spaced slightly from its outer end with an annular groove I4 for receiving a retaining washer I5. As shown best in Figure 4, this washer is of substantially U-form, being provided with a notch I6 to permit the washer to be inserted into the annular groove I4 so that it will straddle the axle. The inner end of the axle I3 is provided with a reduced threaded extremity il which results in the formation of a shoulder Ila. The extremity II is adapted to receive a clamping nut I8.

The wheel and axle structure may be mounted on a suitable support, for example, on the plate I9 of a lawn mower frame. This plate is provided with an opening 2|) for receiving the extremity I'l of the axle.

Before mounting the wheel and axle structure on the plate I9, the roller bearing is inserted in the hub 5. The stub axle I3 is inserted into the roller bearing 8 so that its outer end will project through the bearing. 1 The extreme outer end of the axle will be extended into the narrow portion itl of slot 9 to bring the annular grooveld in the axle in alignment with the wide part I I of the slot e. The retaining washer l is then passed through one end of the wide part II of the slot into the hub until it is positioned in the groove ifi in straddling relationship to theaxle I3. The axle, which now carries the wheel, is next positioned on the plate I9. To do this, the threaded extremity il' of the axle is passed through the opening 2i? and the nut I3 is threaded thereon and is drawn tightly against the plate I9. This will cause the axle I3 to be pulled inwardly through the sleeve l until the retaining washer i5 is drawn into and is held in the annular recess l2. Continued tightening of the nut I8 will draw the hub ti towards the plate I9 until the shoulder Ila of axle I3 contacts plate i9. Thus, plate I9 will be clamped between shoulder Ila and nut I3 and, consequently, the axle I3 will bench-rotatably mounted on the plate. The distance between shoulder lla and washer I5 is greater than the length of sleeve 'i so that therewill be a slight clearance between the inner end of hub 6 andthe plate la and between washerl and the adjacent flat annular surface of recess I2. Thus, the wheel will be free to rotate on the stationary axle. However, the washer I5 will prevent the wheel from pulling off of the axle due to the fact that the washer I5 and the recess l2 in which it snugly ts are of greater diameter than sleeve 1, The washer i5 rides freely on the stationary axle I3 and may or may not rotate with the wheel. It will not become displaced from the axle, due to the fact that it is disposed in the annular recess l2 and radial movement relative to the axle will be precluded. The only way the washer can be removed is to remove the axle from the plate i9 and force the axle outwardly until the washer is in alignment with the part II of slot 9.

It will be apparent from the above description that I have provided a wheel and axle structure which is oi" such a nature that the wheel will be free of any unsightly projections on its outer surface and, therefore, will be of more pleasing appearance. The structure is of such a nature that the wheel may be easily and quickly mounted on the axle or removed therefrom. Furthermore, the axle may be quickly and easily attached to or detached from a suitable support such as the frame of a lawn mower. The Wheel and axle structure is rugged and will effectively maintain inner surface of said body portion, said hub having a bearing sleeve formed therein, an axle positioned within the hub, said axle having an annularvgroovein its periphery at a point spaced fromthe outer end thereof, a slot of T-cross-section extending transversely into theV hub, and a. wheel retaining washer of U-form adapted to be inserted through the wide part of the slot into said groove and in straddling relationship to said axle, and 'afre'cess for receiving and retaining said washer formed at the outer end of said'sleeve and communicatingwith the wide part ofsaid slot, said washer and said recess being of greater diameter than said' sleeve.

2. A structure according to claim l wherein Vthe inner end of said axle is provided with a reduced threaded extremity and has `a clamping shoulder for cooperating with a clamping nut threaded on said extremity, the distance between said shoulder and said annular groove kbeing greater than the length of said sleeve.

3. A wheel and axle structure 'comprising a wheel having a main body portion with a hub thereon, said hub having a bearing sleeve formed therein, an axle positioned within the sleeve, said axle having an annular groove Ain'its periphery at a pointspaced from the end thereof, a slot of T-cross-section extending transversely into the hub, a wheel-retaining washer of U-form adapted to be inserted through the wide part of the slot into said groove and in straddling.relationship to said axle, and a recess for receiving and retaining said washer formed at the end of said sleeve and communicating with-the wide part of said slot, said washer Aand said recess being of greater diameter than said sleeve.

BENNY T. GROBOWSKL REFERENCES CITED The following lreferences are of record in the file of thispatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Waalkesw. June 6, 1939 

